A. Understand the assignment

Read the assignment instructions carefully to determine the topic, purpose, audience, format, and length. For more information, see Understand your assignment.

B. Choose your research article

Use the article provided by your professor or search for academic essays on the required topic. Select 3-5 articles to choose from. To find articles, you may use one of the following:

• Library catalogue

• Research guides (look for the "articles" tab within a guide)

After reading the abstract and introduction of each article, choose one article that

• is relevant to the course,

• is of interest to you, and 

• you understand.

A. First reading

Determine the author’s research question, thesis, and findings.

B. Subsequent readings

Analyse the author’s methodology, observations, techniques, and conclusions. For help, see Reading and listening critically.

A. Establish the research context

• Who conducted this research and what are his or her credentials?

• What is the purpose of this research?

• Does the author identify existing literature on the subject?

• What are the implications for further study?

See Evaluating information sources for help.

B. Judge the success or failure of the article

• Does the author identify the limitations of the study?

• Do you notice any other shortcomings, biases, or flaws?

• Does the author argue the thesis successfully?

A. Write a citation for the article

• Verify which style is required for the assignment (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA)

• For more information on how to cite properly see:

  • APA style guide (PDF)

  • Chicago style guide (PDF)

  • IEEE style guide (PDF)

  • MLA style guide

B. Plan your first draft

Remember, the body of an article review ordinarily consists of two parts: a summary of the article, and your critique of the article.

• List the points to include in your summary of the article.

• Outline your arguments concerning the success or failure of the article. For help see Two ways to create an outline.

• Develop a draft thesis statement. For more information see Thesis statements.

C. Write your first draft

• Write your critical analysis of the article. Be sure to evaluate the source and convey your own original impressions of the research.

• Write the introduction, article summary, and conclusion.

• Check out these strategies for Writing a first draft.

A. Revise your draft

Print out your review and work from a hard copy. Read it carefully and look for high-order problems first.

• Does your argument flow logically?
• Do you support your arguments with relevant evidence?
• Do you present your material in the best order?

For help with these issues, check out tips for revision.

Narrow your focus to paragraph-level issues such as flow and transitions. See Transition words for help.

B. Proofread and format

• Last step! Read carefully to catch all those small errors. Here are some tips on Proofreading strategies.
• Make sure your paper adheres to the conventions of the style you're using. Think about titles, margins, page numbers, reference lists, and citations.
• See the Writing and Communication Centre Resources page for specific help in revising and proofreading.